All characters within this story are property of J.K. Rowling.
This story contains references which are sure to ruin the ending of the sixth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
A silhouette of a thin wizard, his build suggesting he had only just or was soon to come of age, hooded and robed, crossed the clearly deserted school grounds. He passed by the gate, winged boar statues supporting either side, left unceremoniously open. The cloaked figure strode slowly but determinedly towards a wide, pearl colored pedestal.
A single crimson red rose clashing purposefully with his almost wicked appearence, he crouched a few feet from the immense marble slab, sitting awkwardly on his dragonhide clad heels. Bowing his head, his platinum eyes cinched shut and his slightly unkempt white-blonde hair falling before his face, Draco Malfoy reached forth and set the single rose alongside his former Headmaster's eternal tomb.
Since the events of only a week before, Draco himself had been considering the potential power that must be stored inside of every horcrux, cursing the carelessness of the now late Dubmledore. How, he thought, could he have let himself die, how could he have left those so close to him so unprotected? More importantly, the ever lingering question arising again in his mind, how could he not have seen his end, poised and waiting for him, coming? Draco had since become determined to establish, in his lifetime, a horcrux, should he ever have anything that he would be unable to leave behind.
How often Draco had stood firmly, challanging those warm, if piercing, eyes. Finally he was free of Dumbledore's restless gaze, yet all he wanted was to face him again, meeting the Headmaster's power with Draco's own sheer stubbornness. Even as he remained at his grave, though he knew that Dumbledore was forever gone, he did not realize what this meant.
Draco's hand drifted subconsciously to his left forearm, where his flesh still stung, for of late there was hardly a day or a night where it did not sear.
He rose again, then, turning his head to look upon the castle. Before turning his back to the school's grounds forever, Draco spoke quietly under his breath, his voice shaking.
"You sentimental old fool..."
He blinked the single tear from his eye.
Alright, I kinda feel better, after writing this. I had to get it off my chest 'cause, like most fans, I think there's an explanation for both his and Snape's behavior. Feel free to be as critical as you'd like, but I'm not sure I care with this one, it was for my own benefit.